The High Line, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

A late afternoon walk along the High Line. Note the property above at right. It is not part of the High Line but, the owners of that building have landscaped their roof to look like the horticulture of the High Line. What's that saying, "imitation is the highest form of flattery."

Though it was in the 90's F earlier, the lowering sun has brought comfortably reduced temperatures for the evening.



The old railroad tracks are mostly obscured in the lush growth of greenery. The obelisk-looking piece is an artwork, one of many along the High Line.



Some sits and some walks.



I don't know what this flower is but, it was mighty big and it was blooming along the path. I stuck my hand in for a size comparison.



Looking up from the High Line, the jutting glass-floored deck is The Edge in Hudson Yards, a tourist spot with expansive views of the city. It competes with Rockefeller center, the Empire State Building, and the World Trade Center for the tall building tourist dollars.



In the "gee-whiz" department, looking over the rail from the High Line I saw this parking lot below. I can't for the life of me figure out how they get the cars up and down. I am sure it is something simple and practical but, that solution escapes me just looking at it statically.

The High Line, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

I don't seem to tire of visiting nor talking about the High Line - this is my fourth post about it on this trip to Manhattan - it's great for people-watching, city-watching and, getting walking exercise without getting run over at street-level or stopping at every corner to wait for the pedestrian light to cross somewhat safely. In this image, I note the design integration of track and greenery and walkway and humans and city all together.

A view eastward up a side street in residential Chelsea.



A view up 10th Avenue from the High Line. Note the red arrow - it points to a tourist attraction called "Edge" in Hudson Yards - it's a glass platform 100-stories up that protrudes out over the street so you can look straight down or straight out for commanding views.



One of the many artworks along the High Line - an outsized marble and stainless steel dental retainer.



The irony of this ad made me laugh out loud and shake my head in wonder. When the High Line development was being contemplated twenty+ years ago, many/most/all local developers wanted the elevated eyesore torn down. Of course now, it's an incredibly successful asset to the area and the adjacent properties reap great benefit by proximity so they are singing a different tune. (Note: I don't know what this particular property's opinion was back then, if they even existed or had an opinion - the sign is just to illustrate my point).

While many individuals and companies contributed time, money, and/or expertise to bring this park into existence, it is the two friends Joshua David and Robert Hammond who are credited as founders. They were two regular local guys who had no idea how to navigate the complexities of such a project but, they knew preserving the elevated pathway as a park was a good future for their community and doggedly pursued it with the passion of visionaries.  An acknowledgement is also appropriate for the CSX transportation corporation who donated the elevated trackway to the City of New York.



Photographers who read this blog will recognize the logo above and may get a kick out of this. B&H is a well-known mail order company for all photographic needs - I have ordered many times from them over the years. It just happened to be on the route between my hotel and the High Line so I walked by it everyday on the way. I went inside to visit once - it was buzzing with activity - retail and mail order.

Once again, if you'd like to learn more about the High Line, this link is to an outstanding documentary by the Great Museums folks that really tells the story well. And here's a link to the very comprehensive  High Line website if you want more info or to join as a member.

Here are my other recent amateurish posts about it (amateurish in comparison to the above two links):

https://joesretirementblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/a-post-vaccine-adventure-manhattan-new.html

https://joesretirementblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-high-line-chelsea-manhattan-new.html

https://joesretirementblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-high-line-chelsea-manhattan-new_15.html

The High Line, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

I walked the High Line each day on this trip - rain, clouds, or sun. It wasn't as busy during this brief rain shower but, a few of us stalwarts were still out and about enjoying the 1.5 mile elevated urban park path through Chelsea.



Here's one of their signboards showing the route and critical features of the park.



Bright spring colors are mostly gone for this season.



The dense greenery takes over but the old tracks are still there to enjoy the memory of a history gone by.



Art installations are curated and varied in both location, size, and duration.



A hundred years ago or so, trains carried goods to New Yorkers along this elevated space. They elevated the track because too many pedestrians were being killed by the endless trains running through the neighborhood on the surface. At one point, they hired cowboys on horseback to ride in front of the trains to shoo away the pedestrians. Now, with train delivery supplanted by other means, it's become a walking path for a new generation of New Yorkers and visitors - and it's free - and very little hazard to use it.

A Great Museums documentary about the High Line at this link. Inspiring and well worth the watch.

The High Line, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Street-level view of the southern terminus of the High Line at Gansevoort Street in Chelsea.



I enjoy walking multiple city blocks without stopping at corners or worrying about getting run over by street traffic - cars, taxis, on-demands, scooters, bikes, buses - some making too much noise, some none at all, some following the rules of the road, some not so much. To have this urban greenway oasis is just magical. The 1.5 mile long path traverses much of the Chelsea district in Manhattan. Great info at their website at this link and a really powerful, professional, and uplifting documentary about the entire project at this link by the folks at Great Museums.



There are well-placed benches, loungers, seats and cut-outs to just relax and hang out. In some places, big glass walls to watch the traffic on the busy avenues below - sort of life imitating art.



The Vessel is actually at Hudson Yards adjacent to the High Line at the northern end.



One of many pieces of art/sculpture along the High Line.



A view from the surface at 30th Street looking up at the High Line.